Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced onFebruary 24 that all passengers on board MS Westerdam cruise ship have leftCambodia for their home countries after none of them tested positive forSARS-CoV-2.
In his special speechlive televised on the National Television of Cambodia, Hun Sen said that somecrew have not gone back yet because they asked to spend more time in Cambodia.
No Cambodians havebeen infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 so far, heaffirmed, adding that the country continues to strengthen thermal scanning atall airports, ports and border checkpoints to prevent the virus from spreadingto Cambodia. He also urged people to wear masks if necessary and wash handsfrequently.
The MS Westerdamcruise liner, carrying a total of 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members, departedChina's Hong Kong on February 1, and had been turned away by several countriesand regions due to fears over the virus before being allowed by Cambodia todock in the port of Sihanoukville.
An American passenger on the cruiser who disembarked in Cambodia later tested positive for the virus in Malaysia on February 15. However, she tested negative after returning tothe US./.
